Happy Holidays

From our place to yours; 

Wishing you a fabulous and safe Holiday Season.

Have had about a week of solid rain storms (anomalies for this area) with strong winds.  Mild temperatures (for us) though at 15-18 c during the day and about 8 at night.

Above is the doggies play area (just below the RV's at Uvas RV Park in Morgan Hill).  Didn't stop them wanting to play frisbee however, once they got outside.  Getting the toes wet and ears flat out with squinking eyes is the first thing in order. . . . by the end of the better part of an hour ---- major wiping down before coming inside.

Soooo .... not much else to do but shop at the Outlet Stores!   Gilroy, just 15 minutes up the road has over 145 outlet stores - everything from Nike, Izod, OshKosh B'Gosh, Ralph Lauren, Pearl Izumi and Ralph Lauren to name just a few.   Strangely, super duper busy on weekends, empty during the weekdays (so far).

Gilroy - the southernmost city in Santa Clara County, California.  Gilroy is well known for its garlic crops and annual Gilroy Garlic Festival (featuring everything from ordinary garlic to garlic ice cream).

 Gilroy does not lead the world in garlic production but its nickname "Garlic Capital of the World" comes from the fact that Gilroy Foods processes more garlic than any other factory in the world; pickled, minced and powdered.

Went out for breakfast at OD's Kitchen in Gilroy . . . . . man, no wonder its hard to keep the middle-aged drift from happening!!!!

Reasonable prices, great service and down home cooking.   This is truly called "the kitchen sink" on the menu (loads of potatoes, peppers, onions and an egg the way you want it, on top).   Oh yes, and toast.   Could've order the "1/2 kitchen sink" but, gotta appreciate the 'doggy bag.'

Westfield Oakridge Mall, San Jose, Ca

On to some more Christmas Shopping;   feel kinda like we weren't dressed appropriately to shop here (well, there is a mixed bag and we were not standing out but .... ).   Service attendants were great.   Been here during the week - quite calm and lots of room to maneuver ... very, very different on weekends.

"Little Angel" store dedicated to young people's ballroom attire.

Beside this store is a pretty in pink decor for little girls to have their nails done,  makeup complete, costumes put on and hair done (little chairs, low counters for little ones). 

Christmas dedication to the Troops.

And, no mall is complete without food fair and theaters (went to see "Life of Pi" in 3D).   Awesome affects, a little sad at times but a beautiful film.  3D is is so amazing.

Spent some paddling time on the slough.   Put in at Kirby Park (north end) and paddled out to Moss Landing (highway 1). 

An ecological treasure at the centre of the Monterey Bat coastline, there are hundreds of  plant species, animals and birds.   Depending on your luck and the time of day, is what you may come across.

Long-billed Curlews

  

The Elkhorn Slough Reserve is one of 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves established nationwide as field laboratories for scientific reserach and estuarine education.  Consequently, you are not allowed to exit your boat through the six mile journey (each way).

Egret

Not to mention, the mud flats would not be a great idea to try to stop to relieve yourself, unless you want to wade through waist deep quicksand-like muck.    Low tide when we returned, so even more reason to watch for shallow waters.

Baby Grebe's

Western Grebe's

Over 340 species of birds visit or find refuge here.  

The Harbour Seals are huge - weighing up to 300 lbs (140 kg).

Several species share their nap area.

Brown pelican, cormorants and seagul.

Sea lions (by the dozens)

A dock chaulk-a-block full of sea lions sunning themselves.

Paddling smoothly along, a sea otter comes by on its back, eating a clam. . . inches away from my kayak.   It checks out the handle on the top of the kayak and dips underneath, heading over the Marc's yellow kayak.

Sea otters are fairly abundant, once you near the ocean. . . this one, in particular is very kayak curious.   They are the most popular animal at the slough; can eat 25% of their weight each day.   Their super dense hair to protect them from cold water, unlike other marine mammals who have a layer of blubber.

Interruption .... a brown pelican flies by (fishing along the way).

Sea Otter rubbing him/herself along the front of the kayak & checking out the boat.  Southern sea otters (these at the slough) are listed as threatened and protected under California state law.

"Arms behind the head, relaxation mode .... "

If you can, check out this video Marc made  . . .  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wa-7jrBXG4

Lots of entertainment on this paddling trip of only a few short hours.  Watching the seals lining both sides of the inlet, my 'flippers' (yes, the pedal boats have flippers underneath) got stuck in the mud (oops ..... wind drifted me into the shallow mud).   A teeny bit of panic struck ... I managed to inch the flippers underneath enough to ease them out of the mud and use my paddle to get me out of a unpretty situation.   Wasn't looking forward to jumping out into mud up to the waist with inches of water and humungus sea lions on either side of me while I thrash about!